Whether you’re a reporter on the frontlines of extreme weather events like fires and flash floods or an environmental journalist digging into stories of corruption, poor governance, bad business, or the science of the climate crisis, the list of potential risks is long.
CPJ has assembled resources intended to help journalists carry out this critical work, ensuring they can better prepare for or mitigate the various threats and dangers they may encounter.
CPJ recommends completing a risk assessment ahead of your assignment to document the dangers you may be exposed to, assess how to mitigate those risks, and create a contingency plan.
For journalists covering the environment
Journalists covering environmental stories can often draw the ire of those with a vested interest in stifling information. CPJ has tools to help you manage or mitigate potential dangers.
Physical and Digital Safety: Arrest and Detention
Physical and Digital Safety: Protecting Confidential Sources
Digital Safety: Adversarial or confrontational sources
Safety Advisory: Covering the Amazon basin
Digital Safety Kit
For journalists covering extreme weather
Covering climate disasters can be dangerous even for the most experienced journalists. CPJ has resources to help you navigate these potentially difficult or risky assignments.
Physical Safety: Covering extreme weather and natural disasters
Physical Safety: Reporting during flash floods
Physical Safety: Covering wildfires
Psychological Safety
In addition to physical and digital risks, journalists covering environmental stories may face legal threats or intimidation in many contexts. CPJ has a range of legal resources for journalists targeted with legal threats.
If you or your newsroom has additional questions or safety concerns please email [email protected].